U.S. patent application number 13/025851 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-15 for screen control device, image forming apparatus, and computer readable medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kazuko KIRIHARA.
Application Number | 20120062937 13/025851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45806444 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120062937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIRIHARA; Kazuko |
March 15, 2012 |
SCREEN CONTROL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER
READABLE MEDIUM
Abstract
A screen control device includes: a storage unit storing a
content of a function used in a process executed in a information
processing apparatus in association with setting information set to
a setting item of the function; a function selection unit
configured to calculate a usage frequency of each function stored
in the storage unit, and select at least one function based on the
usage frequency; a setting item determination unit configured to
determine a setting item for receiving an input from a user from
setting items relating to a function selected by the function
selection unit based on setting information stored in the storage
unit; a display controller configured to display a screen enabling
to receive an instruction to execute the function selected by the
function selection unit and a screen receiving an input to a
setting item determined by the setting item determination unit from
a user.
Inventors: |
KIRIHARA; Kazuko; (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Assignee: |
FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
45806444 |
Appl. No.: |
13/025851 |
Filed: |
February 11, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/00517
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.15 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/00 20060101
G06F015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 14, 2010 |
JP |
2010-205009 |
Claims
1. A screen control device comprising: a storage unit that stores a
content of a function used in a process executed in an information
processing apparatus in association with setting information set to
a setting item of the function; a function selection unit
configured to calculate a usage frequency of each function stored
in the storage unit, and select at least one function based on the
usage frequency; a setting item determination unit configured to
determine a setting item for receiving an input from a user from
setting items relating to a function selected by the function
selection unit, based on the setting information stored in the
storage unit; a display controller configured to display a screen
that enables to receive an instruction to execute the function
selected by the function selection unit and a screen that receives
an input to a setting item determined by the setting item
determination unit from a user.
2. The screen control device according to claim 1, wherein in a
case where processes executed by using different functions stored
in the storage unit can be achieved by one function provided by the
information processing apparatus, the function selection unit
calculates a usage frequency of the one function by adding up a
usage frequency of one of the different functions used in the
processes and a usage frequency of the one function.
3. The screen control device according to claim 1, wherein in a
case where processes executed by using different functions stored
in the storage unit can be achieved by one function provided by the
information processing apparatus, the function selection unit
calculates a usage frequency after replacing different functions
used in the processes with the one function.
4. The screen control device according to claim 1, wherein the
storage unit stores user information representing a user who
executed a process using the function in association with the
content of the function and the setting information set in the
process, the function selection unit selects at least one function
with respect to each user based on a usage frequency of each
function calculated with respect to each user, and the display
controller displays a screen that enables to receive an instruction
to execute the function selected by the function selection unit and
a screen that receives an input to the setting item determined by
the setting item determination unit from a user on a display
according to a user who uses the information processing
apparatus.
5. The screen control device according to claim 1, wherein the
display controller displays a normal operation key to execute each
function provided by the information processing apparatus and a
simple operation key to execute the function selected by the
function selection unit on a display, and the simple operation key
is displayed so as to be distinguished from the normal operation
key.
6. A screen control device comprising: a history storage unit that
stores history information that records a function used in a
process executed in an information processing apparatus in
association with setting information set in the process; a function
selection unit configured to calculate a usage frequency of each
process stored in the history storage unit based on the history
information, and select at least one function based on the usage
frequency; a setting item determination unit configured to
determine a setting item for receiving an input from a user based
on setting information stored in the history information in
association with the function selected by the function selection
unit; and a display controller configured to display a screen that
enables to receive an instruction to execute the function selected
by the function selection unit and a screen that receives an input
to a setting item determined by the setting item determination unit
from a user on a display.
7. The screen control device according to claim 6, wherein in a
case where processes executed by using different functions stored
in the storage unit can be achieved by one function provided by the
information processing apparatus, the function selection unit
calculates a usage frequency after replacing different functions
used in the processes with the one function.
8. The screen control device according to claim 6, wherein the
history storage unit stores user information representing a user
who executed a process using the function in association with the
content of the function and the setting information set in the
process, the function selection unit selects at least one function
with respect to each user based on a usage frequency of each
function calculated with respect to each user, and the display
controller displays a screen that enables to receive an instruction
to execute the function selected by the function selection unit and
a screen that receives an input to the setting item determined by
the setting item determination unit from a user on the display
according to a user who uses the information processing
apparatus.
9. The screen control device according to claim 6, wherein the
display controller displays a normal operation key to execute each
function provided by the information processing apparatus and a
simple operation key to execute the function selected by the
function selection unit on a display, and the simple operation key
is displayed so as to be distinguished from the normal operation
key.
10. An image forming apparatus comprising: a display that displays
an operation screen receiving an operational input from a user; and
a display control device, wherein the display control device
including: a history storage unit that stores history information
that records a function used in a process executed in an
information processing apparatus in association with setting
information set in the process; a function selection unit
configured to calculate a usage frequency of each process stored in
the history storage unit based on the history information, and
select at least one function based on the usage frequency; a
setting item determination unit configured to determine a setting
item for receiving an input from a user based on setting
information stored in the history information in association with
the function selected by the function selection unit; and a display
controller configured to display a screen that enables to receive
an instruction to execute the function selected by the function
selection unit and a screen that receives an input to a setting
item determined by the setting item determination unit from a user
on a display.
11. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer
to execute a process, the process comprising: storing history
information that records a function used in a process executed in
an information processing apparatus in association with setting
information set in the process to a storage device; calculating a
usage frequency of each function based on the history information;
selecting at least one function based on the usage frequency;
determining a setting item for receiving an input from a user based
on setting information set in processes using the function selected
in the selecting; and displaying a screen that enables to receive
an instruction to execute the function selected in the selecting
and a screen that receives an input to a setting item determined in
the determining from a user on a display.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority under 35
USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-205009 filed on
Sep. 14, 2010.
BACKGROUND
[0002] (i) Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a screen control device, an
image forming apparatus, and a computer readable medium.
[0004] (ii) Related Art
[0005] Recently, as multiple functions are incorporated in an image
forming apparatus, a number of buttons to receive various settings
are located on an operation screen that receives instructions to
the image forming apparatus from the user. This makes the operation
to the image forming apparatus, which a user carries out to execute
a desired process, complicated and cumbersome.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a screen control device including: a storage unit that
stores a content of a function used in a process executed in an
information processing apparatus in association with setting
information set to a setting item of the function; a function
selection unit configured to calculate a usage frequency of each
function stored in the storage unit, and select at least one
function based on the usage frequency; a setting item determination
unit configured to determine a setting item for receiving an input
from a user from setting items relating to a function selected by
the function selection unit, based on the setting information
stored in the storage unit; a display controller configured to
display a screen that enables to receive an instruction to execute
the function selected by the function selection unit and a screen
that receives an input to a setting item determined by the setting
item determination unit from a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a composition of an image
forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware structure of a
controller;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions
provided to the controller;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating history information stored
in a history storage unit;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the
controller;
[0013] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining the calculation
of a usage frequency of each function executed by a function
selection unit;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the determination of
setting items executed by a setting item determination unit;
[0015] FIGS. 8A through 8D are diagrams illustrating optimized
screens created by a display controller;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating history information stored
in the history storage unit;
[0017] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a calculation
of a usage frequency of each function executed by a function
selection unit in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment;
and
[0018] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an optimized screen
created by the display controller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A description will now be given, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, of exemplary embodiments of the present
invention.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a composition of an image
forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. An
image forming apparatus 100 is provided with an operation and
display unit 10, a controller 20, an image reading unit 30, an
image output unit 40 and a communication unit 50. The image forming
apparatus 100 is an example of an information processing apparatus,
the operation and display unit 10 is an example of a display, and
the controller 20 is an example of a screen control device.
[0021] The operation and display unit 10 displays an operation
screen to receive an operational input to the image forming
apparatus from a user based on the control by the controller 20.
The operation and display unit 10 receives instructions to the
image forming apparatus 100 from a user through the operation
screen. The operation and display unit 10 outputs instruction
information representing instructions to the image forming
apparatus 100 received from the user through the operation screen
to the controller 20.
[0022] The controller 20 controls whole operation of the image
forming apparatus 100. More specifically, the controller 20
controls the operation and display unit 10 to display the operation
screen on the operation and display unit 10. In addition, the
controller 20 receives instruction information to the image forming
apparatus from the operation and display unit 10.
[0023] The controller 20 also controls the image reading unit 30,
the image output unit 40 and the communication unit 50, which are
provided to the image forming apparatus 100, according to received
instruction information. For example, when the instruction
information to order the scan of an image is received from the
operation and display unit 10, the controller 20 controls the image
reading unit 30 to scan an original document located on a platen
and acquire an image of the original document. Moreover, when
instruction information to order a copy is received from the
operation and display unit 10, the controller 20 controls the image
reading unit 30 to scan an original document located on a platen,
and acquire the image of the original document. Then, the
controller 20 controls the image output unit 40 to form the
acquired image of the original document on a recording medium such
as paper and output it.
[0024] When instruction information to order a scan-transfer is
received from the operation and display unit 10, the controller 20
controls the image reading unit 30 to scan an original document
located on a platen and acquire an image of the original document.
Then, the controller 20 controls the communication unit 50 to
transmit the acquired image of the original document to an
information processing apparatus (not illustrated). When
instruction information to order the FAX transmission is received
from the operation and display unit 10, the controller 20 controls
the image reading unit 30 to scan the document to be transmitted
located on a platen and acquire the document image. Then, the
controller 20 controls the communication unit 50 to transmit the
acquired document image to the destination specified through the
operation and display unit 10.
[0025] The image reading unit 30 is a scanner for example, and
reads an original document located on a platen according to the
control by the controller 20, and outputs the read image of the
original document to the controller 20.
[0026] The image output unit 40 forms the image on a recording
medium such as paper and outputs it according to the control by the
controller 20.
[0027] The communication unit 50 transmits the document image to be
transmitted to the destination specified through the operation and
display unit 10 according to the control by the controller 20.
[0028] A description will now be given of a hardware structure of
the controller 20. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware
structure of the controller 20.
[0029] The controller 20 is provided with an input/output unit 201,
a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 203,
a RAM (Random Access Memory) 204, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
205.
[0030] The input/output unit 201 transmits/receives data to/from
the operation and display unit 10, the image reading unit 30, the
image output unit 40, and the communication unit 50. The ROM 202
stores programs for creating an optimized screen which is an
operation screen optimized for each user. The CPU 203 reads and
executes programs stored in the ROM 202. The RAM 204 stores
temporary data used during the execution of programs. The HDD 205
stores the image of the original document read by the image reading
unit 30. The HDD 205 stores the history information of processes
executed by the image forming apparatus 100 and the like.
[0031] A description will now be given of functions provided to the
controller 20. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating
functions provided to the controller 20. The controller 20 is
provided with a history storage unit 211, a function selection unit
212, a setting item determination unit 213, and a display
controller 214. The history storage unit 211 is the HDD 205 for
example. Moreover, the function selection unit 212, the setting
item determination unit 213, and the display controller 214 are
achieved by the execution of programs stored in the ROM 202 by the
CPU 203.
[0032] The history storage unit 211 is an example of an storage
unit. The history storage unit 211 associates a content of a
function which is used in the process executed in the image forming
apparatus 100 with setting information representing the setting of
setting items of the function, and stores them. More specifically,
the history storage unit 211 stores history information of
processes executed by the image forming apparatus 100. Here, a
description will be given of an example of the history information
stored in the history storage unit 211 with reference to FIG.
4.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating history information stored
in the history storage unit 211. In this exemplary embodiment, the
history information includes "No.", "function", "user ID" and
"setting information" as items.
[0034] The item "No." stores numbers which are automatically put to
processes executed by the image forming apparatus 100. The item
"function" stores a function of the image forming apparatus 100
used in the executed process. The item "user ID" stores the number
to identify the user who executed the process identified by the
"No.", and is an example of user information.
[0035] The item "setting information" stores the setting
information such as printing conditions and operation conditions
set to the image forming apparatus 100 when the process identified
by the "No." was executed. Information stored in the "setting
information" depends on the "function". For example, when `copy` is
stored in the "function", setting information in the execution of
copy is stored in the "setting information". More specifically,
setting information including a "color mode" setting, an "original
document" setting, an "Nup" setting and the like is stored. The
"color mode" setting is a setting for selecting color copy or
monochrome copy. The "original document" setting is a setting for
selecting one-side printing or duplex printing. Here, one-side
printing means printing an image on one surface of a sheet, and
duplex printing means printing images on both faces of a sheet. The
"Nup" setting is a setting for printing multiple pages (N pages) on
a single sheet together.
[0036] When `scan` is stored in the "function", setting information
in the execution of scan is stored in the "setting information".
More specifically, the setting information including a "color mode"
setting, a "resolution" setting and the like is stored. The "color
mode" setting is a setting for selecting color scan of the original
document or monochrome scan of the original document. The
"resolution" setting is a setting for determining the resolution of
scan of the original document.
[0037] When `scan-transfer` is stored in "function", the setting
information in the execution of scan-transfer is stored. More
specifically, the setting information including "color mode"
setting, "resolution" setting and the like is stored. The "color
mode" setting is a setting for selecting color scan of the original
document or monochrome scan of the original document. The
"resolution" setting is a setting for determining the resolution of
scan of the original document. Moreover, a "transfer system" and a
"destination" are also stored as the setting information. Here, the
"transfer system" indicates the system to transfer the read
original document to an information processing apparatus, and the
"destination" is for identifying the image processing apparatus of
the destination.
[0038] In FIG. 4, the process identified by No. 1 is executed by a
user with a user ID of `A001`, and uses a copy function. Moreover,
a copy executed in the process No. 1 is monochrome duplex copy, and
prints two pages on one surface of a sheet.
[0039] The process No. 2 is executed by a user with a user ID of
`C001`, and uses a scan function. In the process No. 2, the
original document is read in monochrome with a resolution of 600
dpi.
[0040] The process No. 6 is executed by a user with a user ID of
`A001`, and uses a scan-transfer function. When executing a
scan-transfer, the original document is read in monochrome with a
resolution of 600 dpi, and the read original document is
transmitted to an information processing apparatus represented by
IP address "XXX.YY.X.X.X" with SMB (Server Message Block) transfer
protocol.
[0041] Back to FIG. 3, a description will be continued. The
function selection unit 212 receives an instruction to create the
optimized screen, which is an operation screen optimized to improve
the user-friendliness for each user, from the operation and display
unit 10. When the function selection unit 212 receives the
instruction to create an optimized screen from the operation and
display unit 10, it acquires the history information from the
history storage unit 211. The function selection unit 212
calculates the usage frequency of each function based on the
history information illustrated in FIG. 4. The function selection
unit 212 selects at least one function from functions provided to
the image forming apparatus 100 as a function to be displayed on an
optimized screen on the basis of the usage frequency. The function
selection unit 212 outputs the selected function to the setting
item determination unit 213 and the display controller 214. The
process executed by the function selection unit 212 will be
described in detail later.
[0042] The setting item determination unit 213 receives the
function selected by the function selection unit 212 from the
function selection unit 212. The setting item determination unit
213 acquires the history information from the history storage unit
211. Then, the setting item determination unit 213 refers to the
history information, and acquires the setting information set in
the process that used the selected function. The setting item
determination unit 213 determines a setting item for receiving the
input from the user on the basis of the acquired setting
information. The setting item determination unit 213 outputs the
determined setting item to the display controller 214. The process
executed by the setting item determination unit 213 will be
described in detail later.
[0043] The display controller 214 acquires the function, which is
selected by the function selection unit 212 and is to be displayed
on the optimized screen, from the function selection unit 212. In
addition, the display controller 214 receives the setting item for
receiving the input from the user from the setting item
determination unit 213. The display controller 214 creates the
optimized screen on which a function selection key corresponding to
the function selected by the function selection unit 212 is
displayed. In addition, the display controller 214 creates the
optimized screen on which the setting item determined by the
setting item determination unit 213 is displayed. Then, the display
controller 214 displays the created optimized screen on the
operation and display unit 10. Examples of the optimized screen
will be described later.
[0044] A description will now be given of a process executed by the
controller 20. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process
executed by the controller 20.
[0045] The function selection unit 212 determines whether it
receives an instruction to create an optimized screen from the
operation and display unit 10 (step S11).
[0046] When the instruction to create an optimized screen is not
received (step S11/NO), the function selection unit 212 repeats the
procedure of the step S11. When the function selection unit 212
receives the instruction to create the optimized screen from the
operation and display unit 10 (step S11/YES), it acquires a user ID
of the user who input the instruction to create an optimized screen
from the operation and display unit 10 (step S13).
[0047] Then, the function selection unit 212 acquires the history
information from the history storage unit 211 (step S15). The
function selection unit 212 calculates the usage frequency of each
function provided to the image forming apparatus 100 based on the
history information (step S17). More specifically, the function
selection unit 212 extracts records of which the "user ID"
corresponds to the user ID of the user who input the instruction to
create the optimized screen from the history information. For
example, assume that the user ID of the user who input the
instruction to create the optimized screen is `A001`. In this case,
the function selection unit 212 extracts records of which the user
ID is `A001` from the history information. For example, the
function selection unit 212 extracts records of which the user ID
is `A001` from the history information in FIG. 4 as illustrated in
FIG. 6A. Then, the function selection unit 212 counts the number of
usage times with respect to each function with extracted records as
illustrated in FIG. 6B.
[0048] The function selection unit 212 selects the function to be
displayed on the optimized screen on the basis of the usage
frequency of each function calculated in the step S17 (step S19).
More specifically, the function selection unit 212 selects a
function of which the number of usage times is more than a given
value as a function to be displayed on the optimized screen.
Alternatively, when the value calculated by dividing the number of
usage times of a function by the number of extracted records (total
number) is more than a given threshold value (e.g. 0.5), the
function selection unit 212 selects the function as the function to
be displayed on the optimized screen. In FIG. 6B, the value
calculated by dividing the number of usage times of copy function
(10 times) by the number of extracted records (15 times) is about
0.67. When a given threshold value is 0.5, as the value calculated
by dividing the number of usage times of copy function by the
number of extracted records is more than the threshold value, the
function selection unit 212 selects the copy function as the
function to be displayed on the optimized screen. As the values
calculated by dividing the numbers of usage times of scan, FAX and
scan-transfer by the number of extracted records are smaller than
the threshold value, the function selection unit 212 does not
select these functions as the function to be displayed on the
optimized screen.
[0049] Then, the setting item determination unit 213 extracts
setting information with respect to each function selected in the
step S19 (step S21). For example, when the user ID of the user who
input the instruction to create the optimized screen is `A001` and
the function selected in the step S19 is `copy`, the setting item
determination unit 213 extracts records of which the user ID is
`A001` and the function is `copy`. The setting item determination
unit 213 may extract setting information of records of which the
"function" is `copy` from records represented in FIG. 6A.
[0050] Examples of extracted setting information are illustrated in
FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates examples of setting information
extracted in a case where the user ID of the user who input the
instruction to create the optimized screen is `A001` and the
function selected in the step S19 is `copy`.
[0051] Then, the setting item determination unit 213 determines a
setting item for receiving the input from the user on the basis of
the extracted setting information (step S23). More specifically,
the setting item determination unit 213 determines whether each
setting item is changed in each process. For example, in FIG. 7,
settings for the setting items "color mode", "number of copies" and
"Nup" are changed, but the settings of "original document", "size"
and "density" are not changed. Here, the "size" represents the size
of a sheet where the image is formed, and the "density" is the
setting for the copy density. In this case, the setting item
determination unit 213 determines that it is necessary to receive
inputs to the setting items "color mode", "number of copies" and
"Nup" from the user. Then, the setting item determination unit 213
determines setting items "color mode", "number of copies" and "Nup"
as the setting items for receiving the input from the user. The
setting item determination unit 213 may determine the setting items
for receiving the input from the user on the basis of the frequency
of changing each setting items. For example, when the frequency of
changing "color mode" is more than a threshold value, the setting
item determination unit 213 may determine the "color mode" as the
setting item for receiving the input from the user. Alternatively,
when the value calculated by dividing the number of times of
changing the setting of "color mode" by the number of extracted
records is more than a threshold value, the setting item
determination unit 213 may determine the "color mode" as the
setting item for receiving the input from the user.
[0052] The display controller 214 creates an optimized screen based
on the function and the setting item determined in the step S19 and
the step S23 respectively (step S25). For example, assume that the
function determined in the step S19 is `copy` and setting items
determined in the step S23 are "color mode" and "Nup". In this
case, the display controller 214 creates a screen for receiving
inputs to the setting items "color mode" and "Nup" from the user
and executing a copy function as the optimized screen for the user
with a user ID of `A001`, as illustrated in FIG. 8A.
[0053] For example, assume that functions determined in the step
S19 are `copy` and `scan`, setting items for a `copy` function
determined in the step S23 are the "color mode" and the "Nup", and
a setting item for a `scan` function is the "resolution". In this
case, the display controller 214 creates a screen for executing
`copy` and `scan` functions as the optimized screen, as illustrated
in FIG. 8B. In addition, when a `copy` function is selected in the
screen illustrated in FIG. 8B, the display controller 214 creates a
screen for receiving inputs to the setting items "color mode" and
"Nup" as an optimized screen as illustrated in FIG. 8C.
Furthermore, when a `scan` function is selected in the screen
illustrated in FIG. 8B, the display controller 214 creates a screen
for receiving the input to the setting item "resolution" as the
optimized screen as illustrated in FIG. 8D.
[0054] The display controller 214 displays the screen created in
the step S25 (optimized screen) on the operation and display unit
10 as an operation screen (step S27), and ends the process.
[0055] As clear from above description, in the first exemplary
embodiment, the history storage unit 211 stores a function of the
image forming apparatus used in a process executed in the image
forming apparatus in association with the setting information set
in the process and the information of the user who executed the
process. The function selection unit 212 calculates the usage
frequency of each function based on the history information and
selects at least one function as a function to be displayed on an
operation screen based on the frequency of usage. The setting item
determination unit 213 determines a setting item for receiving the
input from the user based on the setting information set in the
process that used the function selected by the function selection
unit 212. Then, the display controller 214 displays a screen for
executing the function selected by the function selection unit 212,
and a screen for receiving the input to the setting item determined
by the setting item determination unit 213 from the user on the
operation and display unit 10. In the image forming apparatus that
offers multiple functions, there is a case where it is difficult to
know what operation is necessary to execute user's desiring process
from many possible operations. Although an image forming apparatus
that enables a user to customize an operation screen manually has
been provided, the user needs to be familiar with the operation of
the image forming apparatus to set the operation screen for
executing user's desiring process from many functions. However,
according to the first exemplary embodiment, as a function that the
user frequently uses and the setting items which are frequently
changed in the function are displayed on the operation screen, the
user-friendliness when inputting the instruction to the image
forming apparatus is improved. In addition, according to the first
exemplary embodiment, the operation screen of which the
user-friendliness for the user is high is automatically provided
based on the history information. Therefore, it is not necessary
for the user to customize the operation screen manually, and the
user convenience in customizing the operation screen is
increased.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0056] A description will now be given of a second exemplary
embodiment. As the composition of the image forming apparatus and
the composition of the controller in accordance with the second
exemplary embodiment are same as those of the first exemplary
embodiment, the description is omitted. As the second exemplary
embodiment is different from the first exemplary embodiment in the
process executed by the function selection unit 212, a description
will be given of a process executed by the function selection unit
212 in detail.
[0057] In the first exemplary embodiment, the function selection
unit 212 counts the number of usage times of each function by using
the history information extracted on the basis of the user ID. In
the second exemplary embodiment, when the combination of several
processes included in the history information can be achieved by
one function provided by the image forming apparatus 100, the
function selection unit 212 replaces functions, which are used in
the several processes that may be achieved by one function, with
the one function, and counts the number of usage times of the one
function.
[0058] For example, assume that the controller 20 will create the
optimized screen based on the history information illustrated in
FIG. 9. Referring to the history information illustrated in FIG. 9,
in the process No. 1, the user with a user ID of `C001` used a scan
function, and stores the image of an original document in the HDD
205 with the saved file name "CCCC.bmp". Then, in the process No.
2, the user with a user ID of `C001` retrieves the image CCCC.bmp
stored in the HDD 205 in the process No. 1 from the information
processing apparatus represented by the IP address XXX.XX.X.X.C.
These sequential processes No. 1 and No. 2 can be replaced with a
`scan-transfer` function provided by the image forming apparatus
100. Thus, the function selection unit 212 replaces functions
`scan` and `scanned image retrieval`, which are used in processes
No. 1 and No. 2, with `scan-transfer` when it counts the number of
usage times of each function as illustrated in FIG. 10A. In
addition, in FIG. 9, the image of the original document which is
stored in the HDD 205 with the saved file name DDDD.bmp by using a
scan function in the process No. 5 is retrieved from the
information processing apparatus represented by the ID address
XXX.XX.X.X.C in the process No. 7. Thus, the function selection
unit 212 replaces functions `scan` and `scanned image retrieval`
used in processes No. 5 and No. 7 with `scan-transfer` when it
counts the number of usage times of each function as illustrated in
FIG. 10A. The setting information in the execution of scan and the
setting information in the execution of scanned image retrieval are
stored as the setting information. The function selection unit 212
counts the number of usage times of each function by using the
function with which functions are replaced as illustrated in FIG.
10B.
[0059] In the above example, when the user with a user ID of `C001`
also executes the process using a scan-transfer function, the
number of usage times of `scan-transfer` is calculated by adding up
the number of usage times of `scan-transfer` and the number of
usage times of `scan` or `scanned image retrieval`.
[0060] There is a case where the operation that the user usually
carries out to achieve user's desiring process conclusively can be
achieved by easier operation. According to the second exemplary
embodiment, the function selection unit 212 replaces different
functions used in several processes with one function and
calculates the usage frequency when the several processes stored in
the history storage unit 211 can be achieved by one function
provided by the image forming apparatus 100. According to this, the
operation screen to achieve user's desiring process efficiently is
provided. For example, as described above, assume that the process
that user desires conclusively is to retrieve the image scanned by
the image forming apparatus 100 in the information processing
apparatus of the user. Furthermore, assume that the user usually
carries out two operations to retrieve the scanned image in the
information processing apparatus of the user, the one being for
executing a scan in the image forming apparatus 100 and the other
being for acquiring the scanned image from the information
processing apparatus. This two-step process executed by the user
can be achieved by a `scan-transfer` function of the image forming
apparatus 100. In this case, according to the second exemplary
embodiment, the operation screen for executing a scan-transfer is
provided to the user, and the operation screen to achieve user's
desiring process efficiently will be provided.
[0061] In above exemplary embodiments, a description was given of a
case where the image forming apparatus 100 executes the user
management, and creates the optimized screen with respect to each
user. However, it is possible to adopt the present invention to the
image forming apparatus that does not execute a user management. In
this case, the history information does not include the item "user
ID". Therefore, the function selection unit 212 determines the
function to be displayed on the optimized screen based on the
number of usage times of each function included in the history
information. Moreover, in this case, a key to execute each function
with normal operation (normal operation key) and a key to make it
possible to execute a function determined by the function selection
unit 212 by inputting only the setting items determined by the
setting item determination unit 213 (simple operation key) may be
displayed on the operation screen as illustrated in FIG. 11. For
example, in FIG. 11, a key to execute a `copy` function is
displayed on the operation screen as the normal operation key. In
addition, in FIG. 11, keys to execute a `copy` function and a
`scan` function are displayed on the operation screen as a simple
operation key. Here, it is desirable to add the word such as
"customized" to the simple operation key to make it possible to
distinguish the normal operation key from the simple operation key
for example. The display color and icon of the simple operation key
may be made different from those of the normal operation key. There
may be users who want to input the setting information other than
the setting items determined by the setting item determination unit
213 in users of the image forming apparatus. The operation screen
of which the user-friendliness is high for both users who wants to
execute detail settings and who wants to execute a process with a
simple operation is provided by displaying the normal operation key
and the simple operation key on the operation screen.
[0062] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the present invention has been provided for the purposes of
illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to
practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiments were
chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others
skilled in the art to understand the invention for various
exemplary embodiments and with the various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the
scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their
equivalents.
[0063] The functions provided to the controller 20 in the above
exemplary embodiments can be achieved by a computer provided with a
CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like. In that case, programs where the
process of the function that the controller 20 has is written are
provided. The process function described above can be implemented
to the computer by executing programs by the computer. Programs
where the content of the process is written can be stored in the
computer readable medium.
[0064] Programs are distributed in a transportable recording medium
such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Disc) and CD-ROMs (Compact Disc
Read Only Memory) in which programs are recorded. Programs can be
stored in a storage device of a server computer, and be transferred
to other computers from the server computer via a network.
[0065] The computer executing programs stores programs recoded in
the transportable recoding medium or programs transferred from the
server computer to its storage device. Then, the computer reads a
program from its storage device, and executes the process according
to the program. The computer can read a program from the
transportable recording medium directly and executes the process
according to the program. The computer can executes a process
according to a program that the computer receives every time when
the program is transferred from the server computer.
* * * * *